By MICHAEL TAVOLIERO
Florida, with a population of 20 million, called it a night just four hours after polls closed, while Alaska, a state that could fit its entire voter base into a Tampa Bay neighborhood, is still counting.
Seriously, how is it that the state with fewer people than most cities can’t manage a timely vote count, especially when this race is for Alaska’s seat in Congress?
It’s like déjà vu from previous elections, where we also waited for what felt like forever. All of this raises questions about how our state officials are handling this—ahem, former Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, who didn’t exactly give Alaska a squeaky-clean elections process, and now his successor, Nancy Dahlstrom, seems just fine with keeping up the delay-filled tradition.
Now, Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom has two main duties: keeping the State Seal safe and ensuring our elections run smoothly. But with this sluggish vote count and a handful of excuses that barely hold water, Alaskans are starting to wonder if the State Seal might as well be on the endangered list.
And in case things weren’t wild enough, there’s a rumor that Gov. Mike Dunleavy could be heading to Washington if Trump taps him for a role in his administration. Sounds out there, but then again, Trump has surprised us with his picks before. Should Dunleavy go, that would leave Dahlstrom in the governor’s chair. Just what Alaska needs, right? Another chapter in our state’s unpredictable saga.
So what’s going on with Nancy? She’s got enough tenacity to last several lifetimes, but maybe it’s time to see the bigger picture. If stubbornness was currency, Alaska would be in a budget surplus. Yet when it comes to our elections and the role she might soon inherit, this isn’t cutting it.
For Alaska’s sake, maybe it’s time to call it a day, Nancy.
Michael Tavoliero is a senior writer at Must Read Alaska.
